Jürgen Klopp reveals he’s changed decision over Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s position
Jürgen Klopp admits Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not get a chance to impress in central midfield for Liverpool in their upcoming matches. Following the 24-year-old’s £40 million arrival from Arsenal,
Klopp claimed that his new signing was capable of playing as a centre midfielder.But the Liverpool manager now insists Oxlade-Chamberlain
will need much more time before being considered for that position and will instead be given game time on the flank in Sadio Mane’s absence. ‘Obviously it is a different style to Arsenal and a different role to the wing-back role he played in his last games for Arsenal,’ said Klopp. ‘Then he plays for England and they all come back from their national teams not confused, but with different plans. That’s not too simple.
‘I would say there has been no consistency until now. We let him run so far, let him do what he is naturally good at and it will take time but it’s all good. He is obviously powerful and that is what we need. ‘At the moment his best position is more the wing that the No 8.
Without training, playing in the middle of the park doesn’t make sense. ‘I was not only happy about his offensive situations [against Manchester United], I also liked the way he reacted after we lost the ball.
‘At this moment he is training only on the wing so it is clear. It can never be without training as a No.8 first. ‘It wouldn’t be good for him, it wouldn’t be good for us. ‘For now it makes more sense to pick him in the more offensive positions. But it is not fixed for the next five years.’
http://metro.co.uk/2017/10/17/Jürgen-klopp-reveals-hes-changed-decision-over-alex-oxlade-chamberlains-position-7005335/
So basically he's saying he now prefers playing him on the wing because he hasn't had enough training yet to play the #8 role for us. Something I've said about 3 or 4 times already since he has arrived. Midfielders can't just walk into our starting eleven without having had proper training and with all the international breaks and games we've had so far, the time just hasn't been there for him.
I think we'll see him get starts in midfield in a few months.